Presentation Details
| Understanding the drivers and variability of lemur social structures Caroline L Shearer1, Christine M Drea1, 2. 1University Program in Ecology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.2Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA |
Abstract
Female dominance in certain species (e.g., spotted hyena, Crocuta crocuta; meerkat, Suricata suricatta) is underwritten by androgen-mediated competition, purportedly to gain priority of resource access and improve offspring survival. The functional impact of resource access, however, remains untested. We compared behavioral endocrine variables in two sympatric brown lemur species – the female-dominant (FD) Eulemur coronatus and the sexually co-dominant (CD) E. sanfordi – in both a resource-rich and lean environment in northern Madagascar. As predicted, FD females showed greater scent-marking rates and fecal androgen concentrations than CD females at the rich site. At the lean site, where animal condition was compromised, both measures were comparable across sex and species; scent marking was generally depressed, suggesting deprioritization, but female E. sanfordi showed greater fecal androgen concentrations relative to the rich site, potentially to prioritize androgen-mediated food competition. Our findings suggest ecologically mediated activational effects of androgens on female behavior, with implications for understanding the ancestral evolution of female dominance in lemurs.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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